The nation’s top chief executives like what they’re seeing and hearing from President Trump and his fellow Republicans, according to survey results released Tuesday by the Business Roundtable.

The economic expectations of the heads of the nation’s largest companies jumped in the first quarter by the most in more than seven years amid optimism about corporate tax cuts, reduced regulations and a boost in infrastructure spending promised by Trump and congressional leaders, the trade group found.

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“I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to enact a meaningful pro-growth agenda that will benefit all Americans,” said Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase and this year’s chairman of the Business Roundtable.

“As these results confirm, business confidence and optimism have increased dramatically,” he said.

The group, which includes the heads of the largest U.S companies, said its quarterly CEO Economic Outlook Index shot up to 93.3 from 74.2 in the second quarter.

It was the biggest increase since the third quarter of 2009 and the highest level in nearly three years. The index is based on projections for sales, capital spending and hiring over the next six months, and ranges from minus-50 to 150, with a reading above 50 indicating the economy is expanding.

Since the survey began in 2002, the average has been 79.8. The first quarter was the first time the index has been above its historical average in nearly two years.

Rockets

SpaceX delay,

new contract

SpaceX’s planned launch of a commercial communications satellite was delayed by high winds at Cape Canaveral in Florida Monday night.

The launch of a Falcon 9 rocket is set to lift the EchoStar 23 satellite into space.

The next launch window is Wednesday night.

On Tuesday, SpaceX won a $96.5 million contract to launch a GPS satellite for the U.S. Air Force.

The Southern California space company, run by Tesla’s Elon Musk, is scheduled to launch the GPS III satellite in February 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The satellite will provide better anti-jamming capabilities and improved accuracy for precision navigation and timing, according to the Air Force.

SpaceX was certified by the Air Force in 2015 to launch national security satellites, breaking up a longtime and lucrative monopoly held by a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin called United Launch Alliance.

Last year, SpaceX won its first national security satellite launch contract, which was worth $82.7 million.

Boards

Microsoft

adds Hoffman

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman will join the Microsoft board, three months after the world’s largest software maker acquired the corporate social network.

Hoffman’s addition takes the board up to 12 members, the company said. Hoffman, who started LinkedIn with former colleagues in 2002, is a partner at venture capital firm Greylock Partners.

Microsoft paid $26.2 billion for LinkedIn last year, its biggest acquisition ever, to boost its cloud, professional networking and customer-management offerings. The deal closed in December.

Acquisitions

Neiman Marcus

in Hudson talks

Neiman Marcus Group, the struggling department-store chain that scrapped plans in January for an initial public offering, is considering a sale of the company instead.

Neiman Marcus is in talks with Hudson’s Bay Co., the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue, about a buyout of the upscale retailer, according to the Wall Street Journal. The deal would exclude Neiman Marcus’s nearly $5 billion in debt, the newspaper reported.

The takeover speculation follows Neiman Marcus’ announcement Tuesday that it’s working with financial advisers on a review of its strategic options, which may include selling part or all of its business. The company also wrote down its brand and other assets by $153.8 million last quarter.

Hudson’s Bay has also reportedly held talks about acquiring Macy’s.

Neiman Marcus, based in Dallas, also owns the Bergdorf Goodman luxury stores and the off-price Last Call clearance centers.

Bourbon

Bulleit opens

1st distillery

Bulleit bourbon has reached a milestone in its maturity with the opening of its first distillery.

It’s riding the wave of bourbon’s popularity as its parent company — spirits giant Diageo — looks to expand a brand started 30 years ago when Kentuckian Tom Bulleit revived his family’s whiskey recipe.

Company executives gathered with state and local officials Tuesday to mark the opening of the $115 million Bulleit distillery about 30 miles east of Louisville.

Diageo sees the distillery, built on rolling farmland, as a catalyst for the brand that has flexed its muscle with annual double-digit sales growth in recent years.

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